Concerned community members became supportive community members during a Sikeston Planning and Zoning meeting Tuesday.

A large crowd of concerned citizens crowded into City Council Chambers at Sikeston City Hall to voice concerns about a conditional use variance at 202 Kennedy.

Nick Slinkard, owner of Missouri Taekwondo Institute, is attempting to purchase the property, formerly North Acres General Baptist Church, from the General Baptist Foundation. Slinkard wants to use the property for a taekwondo studio, but to do so, he must have a conditional use variance as the property is zoned R-5 multi-family residential.

Community members who live in the area were concerned with several issues, including the increased traffic to the area that included loud cars and vehicles driving too fast. Residents were also concerned with what would happen to the building if the taekwondo studio were to leave, fearing another business would come in.

Members of Planning and Zoning assured residents that a conditional use variance means that the property can only be used for the purpose intended, in this case a taekwondo studio. If it was no longer a taekwondo studio, the property would revert to R-5 multi-family residential.

The Planning and Zoning committee also informed residents that the property could be made into apartments, without any approval of the committee, since that is how the area is zoned.

Slinkard said he is wanting the building to have more space for his students, which number about 100. The hours of the business would be from 5-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.

Slinkard spoke to residents at the meeting and ensured them he wants to be a part of the community and teaches his students to be courteous.

“You won’t have any problems from my students,” he said.

He added that if there were any issues of speeding or loud music, that residents could speak to him directly and he would take care of the problem.

After nearly 45 minutes of conversation, residents mostly seemed to be in favor of the taekwondo studio and Planning and Zoning approved the conditional variance. The measure will now go before city council for final approval.

In other action during Tuesday’s Planning and Zoning meeting:

• Approved a request from Water Engineering, Inc. on behalf of Eleven 13 Investments, LLC, to rezone two lots between Robert, Betty and Ralph Street from Two Family/Duplex Residential to Highway Commercial.
• Approved a request from Water Engineering, Inc. on behalf of Eleven 13 Investments, LLC, to subdivide a tract of land into eight lots, to be known as Eleven 13 Subdivision. The lots lie between Robert, Betty, Ralph, and Indiana Streets.
• Approved a request from Lambert Engineering & Surveying on behalf of Albert and Kaylan Dockins III, to subdivide a tract of land into nine lots, to be known as Linn Street Place. The lots will be located to the north of Linn Street, between Applegate Blvd and Delores.
• Approved a request from Chester and Jeanette Bell for a conditional use variance to allow a storage building on a lot that does not have a primary residential building, located on Lescher Street.